History
Since the 1970s, BGR has been actively involved in geoscientific research in the polar regions. Initially, the organisation cooperated with international partners, but over time it has increasingly undertaken its own expeditions.
Important milestones began with the first Antarctic land expedition to northern Victoria Land (GANOVEX) and the construction of the Lillie Marleen hut in the 1979-80 Antarctic summer, which marked the start of BGR's terrestrial polar research. In 1979, the Federal Republic of Germany became a party to the Antarctic Treaty and, with the BGR's research contribution, was granted consultative status in 1981, thus consolidating its active role in international Antarctic research.
The BGR's first geoscientific research in the Arctic took place in 1988 and 1991 as part of its participation in the Spitsbergen expeditions of the University of Münster. In 1992 and 1994, the BGR's CASE programme was launched in Svalbard and northern Greenland.
Facts in brief
1973
First BGR geophysical research projects in the North Atlantic to explore the hydrocarbon potential of continental margins.
1976
BGR’s first Antarctic geoscientific research as part of US expeditions.
1978
First German marine geophysical expedition in Antarctic waters after World War II by the BGR.
1979
Accession of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Antarctic Treaty.
1979/1980
First land expedition (GANOVEX) to northern Victoria Land, marking the start of terrestrial polar research by the BGR.
1980
Construction of the Lillie Marleen Hut on Mount Dockery at the Lillie Glacier in northern Victoria Land.
1981
Admission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Round Table of Consultative States of the Antarctic Treaty.
1983
Construction of the Gondwana Station at Terra Nova Bay.
1984/85
With GANOVEX IV, the BGR conducts the first comprehensive, combined geophysical and geological expedition to northern Victoria Land.
1987/88
Expansion of Antarctic research to the Shackleton Range (Weddell Sea region) with the GEISHA expedition.
1988/89
Expansion of the Gondwana Station to a multi-container building.
1988 & 1991
First Arctic geoscientific research within the framework of an expedition of the University of Münster in 1988 and the Geoscientific Spitsbergen Expedition (SPE´91) to Spitsbergen.
1990
Integration of personnel and work priorities from the GDR’s geoscientific research in Antarctica into the BGR’s polar research.
1992 & 1994
Initiation of the CASE programme on Spitsbergen and North Greenland.
1995/1996
Expansion of Antarctic research activities from northern Victoria Land (Ross Sea region) and the Shackleton Range (Weddell Sea region) to Dronning Maud Land (GeoMAUD).
1997-1999
Implementation of the „Cape Roberts Project“, an international drilling programme in the Ross Sea, with the participation of the BGR.
1998–2003
Expansion of Arctic research activities to the Polar Urals (Russia) and Ellesmere Island (Canada). BGR’s first combined terrestrial/marine geoscientific expedition to Nares Strait.
2002/2003
Antarctica: Expansion of work to the Lambert Glacier in East Antarctica (PCMEGA).
2005
BGR starts building the National Polar Sample Archive (NAPA) at the request of the SCAR-IASC National Committee.
2006/07
BGR participates in the ANDRILL international drilling programme in the Ross Sea.
2008/09
BGR participates AGAP in the High Antarctic as part of the International Polar Year 2007-09.
2009/10
BGR starts first high- resolution aeromagnetic survey flights in northern Victoria Land within the framework of GANOVEX X.
ab 2010
Expansion of CASE Programme research to the New Siberian Islands (Russian Arctic) and Ellef Ringnes Island, Yukon North Slope and Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic.
2010/2011
Launch of the GEA research programme in cooperation with the AWI in Dronning Maud Land in East Antarctica.
2015–2017
Principal phase of the renovation and environmentally responsible, technical modernisation of Gondwana Station.
2017
BGR and AWI start geological and geophysical exploration of potential drilling locations under the Ekström Ice Shelf (Sub-EIS-Obs).
2017
Most extensive geoscientific land expedition since the beginning of BGR's terrestrial Arctic research to the northern margin of Ellesmere Island, Canada (CASE 19).
seit 2019
BGR participation in the international Antarctic research drilling project "Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to Two Degrees of Warming" (SWAIS2C).
2019
Work resumed in NE Greenland as part of the CASE 20 expedition.
2021
Launch of the project GANOVEX-BOOST with amphibious approach by combining geological and geophysical methods in the air, at sea and on land.
2022
Reorientation of the CASE programme as a result of the RUS-UKR war and concentration of work on the North American and European Arctic only.
2023/24
Start of the first field season of the SWAIS2C research well on the Kamb Ice Stream in the western Ross Sea.